Thursday, 25 February 2016

This little piece of quilting was supposed to be one half of a tea cosy, but my maths and concentration failed me and I managed to cut two slightly different sized rectangles. Dividing by two was obviously beyond me that day. I was slightly cheesed off about it, because I realised that if I tried shaving a bit off the larger side I would probably end up in a right old pickle trying to get a snug fit. So this morning I changed plan and made it into a place mat and then had cheese and pickle sandwiches for lunch.

My life has been revolving around sandwiches. The secret project that I showed last week consists of six quilt sandwiches, that have now been joined into three large panels. Two more big joins to go, then the binding, and I should finish next week.

Here goes for week 82...

The project in Week 81 that really caught my eye was Judy's irises - such beautiful lines and colours, with the added interest of a subtle background achieved with diluted silk paints and salt. If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over nowand see more photos.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-1. Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2. Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.4. The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau and Russia have taken part. The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.Linking up to Kelly's blog My Quilt Infatuationfor Needle and Thread Thursdayand Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addictfor Whoop Whoop Fridayand Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quiltsfor Finish It Up Friday.

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Or is it a slack rope?This is the only graffiti that I have ever seen that I really love. It just wouldn't be the same without the air brick.Welcome to Daisy Debs, the latest follower - thank you for joining

Thursday, 18 February 2016

This is as far as I have got with my latest experiment, using thermal curtain lining and one of my posh new needles that arrived through the post last week. The idea was to reproduce the changes of tone that worked so well in the sunset landscape that I put into the 12 x 12 exhibition at Midsomer Quilting last year.However, once I had done a small area of stitching for the sky in the distance, compared with last year's landscape, which is on calico and for which I used a finer needle, somehow the colours looked sludgy. Not even the patch of pink light in the photos can compensate for the dirty sky, but I rather like the illusion. We have a bit of stained glass in the kitchen, and I am so used to the pretty colours it throws around on a sunny morning that I didn't even notice it until I looked at the photos later.

Eventually I worked out that the bobbin thread was showing through. There isn't a problem with the tension, but because I have been using a thicker needle, and the curtain lining is more resistant, it doesn't close up over the hole left by the needle. So the multi purpose mixed beige and neutral colour that I have used in the bobbin for all my previous landscapes shall have to be replaced by a different shade when I am working on curtain lining.

However, having made a start on the landscape, I had a change of plan last Friday. I am busting my buttons to get a large quilt done very quickly. For the moment it shall have to remain under wraps, but here is the back of the first section I have quilted. The alternating waves and swirls are very easy and uncomplicated, so I should have this quilt finished by the end of the month.

Here goes for week 81...

A special welcome to Margarita, the first person to link up from Russia!

And it just so happens that the post in Week 80 that really caught my eye shows her beautiful collection of white quilted doilies, which she made using fabric that her mother bought over forty years ago. If you haven't seen Margarita's blog post yet, nip over nowand see more photos.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-1. Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2. Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.4. The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France, Macau and Russia have taken part. The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.Linking up to Kelly's blog My Quilt Infatuationfor Needle and Thread Thursdayand Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addictfor Whoop Whoop Fridayand Nina-Marie's blog Creations... Quilts, Art... Whateverfor Off The Wall Friday.

Tuesday, 16 February 2016

Easily the most comfortable item ever to come out of my husband's shed, this chair is a prototype for the chair he dreams of making one day. The wood he used is cheap and cheerful, formerly odds and ends that were cluttering up the shed. He had foam cushions made to measure, and my job was to cover them. Not to be outdone in the economy stakes, I rummaged around the cupboards and decided to use some leftover curtain material to make the cushion covers. In theory it was an easy job, but in practice it wasn't exactly fun-packed. Firstly, I tend to avoid zips, but there was no escape here. Then I had to work out how to go around the corners, so I just fudged my way through. Perhaps I should have looked at a book, but trial and error is more my style, so one particular corner of the larger cushion has to face the back. Finally, the material was a nightmare, fraying if you no more than breathed on it, so every seam is encased in broad bias binding so that the fabric doesn't unravel itself the first time it is thrown in the washing machine.All the effort was worth it. My husband loves relaxing with a book in this chair, and doesn't seem to be in any rush to make the posh version yet.Linking up with Connie's blog Freemotion by the Riverfor Linky Tuesdayand Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quiltsfor Finish It Up Friday.

Sunday, 14 February 2016

Probably one of my favourite churches to call in to when out on a walk, St. Andrew's in Clevedon.Welcome to Margarita (or, if you prefer Cyrillic, Маргарита), the latest follower - thank you for joining!

Thursday, 11 February 2016

One hundred squares again in shades of pink and green, but this time the emphasis is on the green rather than the pink.

All the little squares are made using the same fabrics as in the pink quilt I finished a fortnight ago, with the exception of the bright green, which I added in so it would tie in with the border.

The large squares at the corners are there because I didn't have enough of the brighter green to go all the way round.

The binding was the perfect match for the top of this quilt...

...but perhaps not for the backing. These things happen when busting the stash.Meanwhile, the experiments with curtain lining continue. After finishing last week's smokescape, I decided I wasn't going to do another landscape until I had equipped myself with some beefier needles. I had been using my usual size 80 quilting needles, which are usually fine with 30 weight thread, but once you need to go over the same area a few times the thread had a tendency to snap - not too often, but enough for it to be a bit irritating. So I ordered a packet of size 100 titanium coated needles, and they arrived in the post yesterday.

I tried one out today for a quick test, just scribbling on the spot, and the thread didn't break. So far so good. And what's more, it's posh. I've never used a gold coloured needle before. It might go to my head.

Here goes for week 80...

The post in Week 79 that really caught my eye was Heulwen's origami crane wall hanging, which she made to send to her friend Alison In Kentucky. Lucky Alison! If you haven't seen Heulwen's blog post yet, nip over nowand see more photos.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-1. Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2. Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.4. The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France and Macau have taken part. The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.Linking up to Kelly's blog My Quilt Infatuationfor Needle and Thread Thursdayand Sarah's blog Confessions of A Fabric Addictfor Whoop Whoop Fridayand Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quiltsfor Finish It Up Fridayand Michelle's Romantic Tangle for Let's Make Baby Quilts.

Tuesday, 9 February 2016

Have your frying pans ready - it's Pancake Day!This is the traditional pancake for Shrove Tuesday, the annual pre-Lenten treat, which is almost the size of a dinner plate, heavy enough to sink a battleship if made too thick, and tastes best if fried in lard. Make sure you use a clean frying pan that has not previously been used for frying onions or garlic. Children will taste a rogue flavour in a trice and complain loudly.Ingredients (sufficient for at least 6 pancakes)4oz (125 gr) plain flourA pinch of saltHalf a pint (300 ml) whole milk 2 eggsLard or sunflower oil for fryingLemon slices and sugar to serve

Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl, add a pinch of salt, and make a well in the middle.

Beat the eggs...

... and add them to the milk.

Fill the well with some of the milk and egg mixture, and start mixing in the flour to make the batter. To prevent lumps forming, keep the whisk in the centre of the well.

Add the rest of the milk and egg mixture gradually as the flour becomes incorporated into the batter.

Once the batter is mixed it should be left to stand for at least an hour before frying the pancakes.

Approximately a ladleful of batter will cover the base of 10 inch frying pan.

When it comes to turning the pancake, softies use a spatula, the blasé give a quick flick of the wrist and toss it a good foot into the air, and the truly barmy tie their pinny strings tight and elbow the opposition out of the way for a quick smacker from the verger.

Meanwhile, I am at home scoffing hot pancakes dripping with lemon juice and sugar.Linking up to Connie's blog Freemotion by the Riverfor Linky Tuesday

Thursday, 4 February 2016

Unusual choice of subject, I admit, but this piece was an experiment to see whether two layers of thermal curtain lining would be suitable for stitched landscapes, instead of a calico and wadding sandwich.Last week I had just a small section quilted, but the curtain lining was so resistant to folding and frilling that I was able to take the safety pins out from the corners and carry on working without them.

The material held so firm that I was able to quilt right up to the edges. Here is a photo taken before I had straightened off the edges.Another great advantage was that the work is easy to grip, so no need for gloves, and I shall be able to quilt landscapes in the summer without getting hot and bothered.

Binding was out of the question - it was far too thick - so I cut along the edges to get a clean line all around, and then attached the zigzagger to the treadle. This was the first time for ages that I had used the Singer 15K for anything other than free motion quilting.

There was still about a quarter of an inch all round outside the zigzagging, so I then sliced off the surplus as close as possible to the grey zigzag stitching.All I needed to do then was the hand stitched birds in the sky, and the job was finished.I am not going to fret about the few stray threads at the edges. I am going to convince myself it looks arty. Otherwise I might resort to clear nail varnish, unless anyone has any better ideas. Suggestions please!

Here goes for week 79...

The post in Week 78 that really caught my eye was Carole's fabulous quilting of a gorgeous blue top based on Haida art. If you haven't seen her blog post yet, nip over nowand see more photos.

If you love free motion quilting, whether you are a beginner just taking the plunge, or you have reached the stage where you can do ostrich feathers with your eyes shut and still achieve perfect symmetry, then please link up.

Remember, FMQ is FMQ, whether your machine was made last week, or it is older than your granny.

Here are the very easy and slightly elastic rules:-1. Link up with any recent post, ideally from the last week but within the last month, which features a free motion quilting project, whether it is a work in progress or a finish.

2. Link back to this post in your own post and/or grab the linky button for your blog's sidebar.3. Visit as many of the other participants as possible and say hello in the comments box.4. The link up will remain open for four days, from midnight to midnight GMT for the long weekend, Friday to Monday.So far quilters from the USA, England, Wales, Australia, Canada, Germany, Holland, New Zealand, France and Macau have taken part. The first participant from each new country will get a special mention the following week.Linking up to Kelly's blog My Quilt Infatuationfor Needle and Thread Thursdayand Nina-Marie's blog Creations... Quilts, Art... Whateverfor Off The Wall Fridayand Sarah's blog Confessions of a Fabric Addictfor Whoop Whoop Fridayand Amanda Jean's blog Crazy Mom Quiltsfor Finish It Up Fridayand to Connie's blog Freemotion by the Riverfor Linky Tuesday.